Space organizations such as NASA and private corporations such as SpaceX are working hard to establish a Mars exploration mission. Space scientists, though, agree that establishing a stable base on the moon is very critical for the Mars colonization mission to be carried out successfully. NASA plans to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2024 as a first move to establish a colony on the moon.
Postponed Moon Launch
NASA has made considerable strides in forming the forthcoming Artemis mission under the leadership of Jim Bridenstine. Bridenstine may, however, step down if Joe Biden assumes charge of the White House, as the NASA president recently indicated.
And now an investigation by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Space Agency has indicated that the timetable for the space agency to conclude the Artemis mission is impractical.
NASA will initially deploy the Gateway in early 2024. It consists of the Power and Propulsion Portion (PPE), which drives and propels the orbital spacecraft, and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), which provides crew members with a docking place for the Orion capsule and living and working spaces.
'The EPP and HALO production plans have been adversely affected by the Agency's continuing transformation of the Gateway specifications, including NASA's decision to co-manifest and deploy the two components on the same commercial rocket rather than separately as originally planned,' said the audit study.
According to the audit study, the Gateway that consists of a laboratory and will circle the moon will be more definitely be inaccessible by 2024, and as a result, the entire development of the project may be postponed.
Delay Could Affect Mars Mission
As the Artemis project will be postponed, the prospect of Mars missions will also be adversely affected. The space agency is now on the cusp of confronting budget challenges in response to the wait.
Bridenstine also revealed that he won't be a member of NASA in the future. According to Bridenstine, he will not be a "suitable person" to chair the space agency under Biden's leadership.
"Whoever the president is, they have to have somebody they know and trust and somebody the administration trusts. That person is not going to be me," said Bridenstine.
He told Aviation Week that what they need is somebody who has "a close relationship" with the United States president. The Office of Management and Budget, National Space Council and the National Security Council, according to Bridestine, needs someone they trust in NASA.
What's In The Suitcase For The Trip?
If the Artemis program begins to take measures to land on the Moon the first woman and the next man, astronauts plan what will go into their real Moon Kits.
Last month, NASA requested people's views about what they're supposed to bring in their luggage for their Artemis ride to the Moon. The popular recommendations include nice novels, teddy bears, and coffee.
Good books. Teddy bears. Coffee.
These are some of the most common things found in what people said they would put in their suitcase for their #Artemis trip to the Moon. Would you include these things in your #NASAMoonKit? https://t.co/5oa7FNBatM pic.twitter.com/aB8mL7zVh1 — NASA (@NASA) November 12, 2020
NASA plans to utilize groundbreaking advanced technology and systems through the Artemis lunar exploration program to discover more of the Moon than ever before. To develop sustainable missions by 2028, NASA is partnering with commercial and international partners.
And it will also take the big huge jump depending on what the U.S. space agency knows on and about the Moon-sending colonists to Mars.
Check out more news and information on Space on Science Times.
